Controlling-valve for self-starters.



N. A. CHRISTENSEN. CONTROLLING VALVE FOR SELF STARTERS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8. 19:3.

Patented Jan. 9, 1017.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inve rotor;

rn If Jar-"years,

N. A. CHRISTENSEN CONTROLLING VALVE FOR SELF $TARTERS.

Patented Jan. 9,1917

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Inventor. M

O 1 m w 4 a 1 0! 1 n 2. .w 1 iv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NIELS A. CHRISTENSEN, F MIL'W'AUKEE, WISCONSIN.

CONTROLLING-VALVE FOR SELF-STARTERS Application filed December 8, 1913.

To all whom it may m nmkm lie it known that I. NIELS (Tums'rnn-- sex, a citizen of the l nited States. residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented 1-er tain new and useful lmprovemmits in Controlling-Valves for Selffitarlerr, of which the following is a specification, reference lie-- ing: had to the accompanying drawing, formi115, a part thereof.

This invention relates particularly to a valve, for controlling the connections be tween. the tank or reservoir for ('Ulill'il'GSSfi'tl air or other starting fluid, the comprissor and the engine in apparatus for starting internal combustion engines. Its main objects are to provide against depletidn of the tank or reservoir by leakage in the selector valve or as a result of aecidentally turning the se-- lector valve into or leaving it in starting or abnormal position, to facilitate the inflation of tires or supply of compressed air for other purposes direljztly by the eom 'n'essor or from the tank or reservoir, to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the valve and operation of the starting apparatus, and generally to improve the construction and operation of devices of this class.

It consists in. the eonstrnctimi, arrange ment and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing like charaeters designate the same parts in the sew eral figures.

Figure l is a vertical section on the line l--1. Figs. 2 and :3. of a. valve embodying the invention; Fig. 2 a horizontal longitudinal seetion, of the valve on the line 2---2. Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 3 is a front end view of the valie: Fig. l is a horizontal section on the line l---l. Figs. 3 and I Fig. 5 is a face view of the selector valve seat and base; Fig. (i is a face view of the selector valve; and Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section on the line i'--T, Figs. 1 and The valve comprises a case tomposed of a base see-lion (I, a seat section b and a re vessel] rover r'", the rover being bolted with the seat section to the base seetion and forne ing with the seat section, the Selector valve t-lnimber. The seat section in formed. as shown in Fig. 5 with a central opening: or port (I. Wllic'li for convenience may he called the supply port, and with ports (9, g and it, of which the ports and g may for Chlb Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5 1917.

Serial No. 805.288.

\ enii-nce be called service ports and the ports 7' and It exhaust. ports.

The base (I is formed with a central opening or port i, \vhivh registers with and forms a continuation of the port (Z in the valve seat, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Itis also formed in a neck or extension j, as shown in l igs. l, 2. and 7, with a central chamber A. communicating at one end with the port 1' and rinsed at the opposite end by a srrew cap I. On each side of the chamber ll: the neek or extension j is formed with passages m and n, which communicate at one end with the ports 6 and g respectively in the valve seat. and at the opposite end are formed with laterally opening pipe conneetions, the passage m being in practice connected by a pipe with a pump 01 Compressor and an automatic controller, and the passage n being connected with distributing valve mechanism for admitting the compressed starting fluid to the engine cylinders on the'tiring strokes of their pistons, substantially as shown and described in my applieation Serial. No 630,630, filed June 1, il I. The llllt'h' or extension is also with a downwardly or laterally pro1eeting pipe connection 0, communicating with the chamber 1- at the end next to the cap Z, for connecting the valve with a tank or reservoir. as shown in my former application above mentioned.

The pipe pttonnecting the valve with the tank or reservoir, may be provided, as shown in Fig. l, with close the connection between the selector valve and the tank or reservoir, and thereby prevent depletion of the latter by leakage of the selector valve and its connections when the device is to remain onto-f use for any ronsiderable time. The cock 01' valve (1 has a squared stem r projecting through an opening in the flange of the base a, for openint: and closing the cock or valve, as hereinafter explained.

As shown in Fig. 4, the base a is formed with a through port 8. registeringiat one end with the exhaust port it of the valve seat, and eonmmnit-ating at the other end with the atmosphere. It is also formed witha blind port I, registering at one end with the exhaust port f. and cmnmunieating through formed a stop cock or valve q, to

a lateral opening with a nozzle u, for the fitted to turn in the cover a, has a central in an opening in the base 0 around the nor, zle, forms therewith a paseage normally eonnecting the port 25 and the exhaust port f with an auxiliary exhaust port w, formed in the hash and open to the atmosphere. This arrangement provides for an easily act-easihle hose connection for inflating tires. etc. on the front or exposed side of the base 0-, which in in luuctice mounted on the dash or foothoard'of an automobile, while the auxiliary exhaust port in, with which the main exhaust port 6 is connected by the cap i) when the hose. connection is not in use. opens on the hack side of the base into the motor hood, where the escape of the exhaust from the controlling valve is unohjectionahle on account of noise or otherwise.

Theeover c of the valve case is formed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a tubular neck as, in axial alinement with the central openings or ports (1 and 1'. in the valve seat I) and base an. outer end in a segmental flange 9;, graduated or marked on its front face, as shown in Fig. 3, to indicate the dillerent positione of the selector valve, and terminating in shoulders z and *2, which form stops for the valve operating handle hereinafter described.

A rotary or oscillatory selector valve 3, consisting of a disk accurately faced and fitted to the face of the valve seat I), and

port or opening 4. communicating: with the supply port ll and a through port 5. adapted to register in difl'ereut positions of the valve with the service ports 0 and r and the exhaust port in its working lace the valve 3 is formed with cavities H and 7.

which are adapted to bridge and connect the ports (2 and f and the ports 1 and 7' respec tively, in the neutral or central poeition ol' the valve. An extenaion 8 ol the cavity 7 is formed in the face of the valve to connect the servieeflport r with the exhaust port I: when thetl iroughport 5 is turned into rogister either with the service port l'or chin-gr ing the tank ourescrvoir. or with the exhaust port f 'loi" iu-llatiug' tires or taking colupressed air for other purposes directly from the tank or reservoir. and under such con ditions to permit any leakage of mliuplwwl air hetwi-cu lluvalvc Irand il .wui o to 4'scape through the ports II. and a, without i-ffeet on the sturline mechanism.

A tulullar valvc opcrnliu, stem li'l. tilted to turh in llH neck irfhaw a i uarcd head ll at its inner end. lilting hctwccn parallcl rihn 19. on the outer lure ol' the vulvc as -ho\vn in Figs 1 and J. The outer Phil of the ntcm l0, protruding hcyond llullangny. squared; uud llll' huh ol' a handle I i removahly lifted thereon. spring lllvrrttl hall or deicni ll. in the hlp ol' the handle. l v rugagcuu-ut with a nottl or depression in the sturndt), holdaihe ha die in place on the This neck terminates at its front or stem, as shown in Fig. l. 'lhc huh oi the handle is provided on the upper side with an index; or pointer 15. indicatio; on the flange 5 whi h is marked 1. X and H. the 'uunpineg neutral and starting positions respectively, of the valve 3. By partially withdrawing the handle from the stem if so that its shank will clear the stop shoulder it can he turned with the valve 3 'l'arther to the right, or contraclockwise, to bring the port 5 into register with the port when th shank of the handle will he opposit and may he pushed hack into engagement with the notch 9, for inflating tiree, etc. dhuctly from the tank or reservoir.

A stop valveltl, having its stem 17 guided in axial alinement with the chamber is, is normally held by a spring 19- againat its a -at at one end of said chamher around the opening or port in the bane mas shown in Fig. 1, thereby closing communication hctwccn the tank or reservoir and the chandler ol the selector valve in the revel-Mal cover c.

The hub of the handle 13 is provided with a push button 19. whose stem is conlinrd therein in axial alincmcnt with the llorc ol' the stem 10 and is rumovahle therefrom with the handle so as to prevent or render dilli cult, unauthorizml manipulation of eithcr the selector val\e l or the stop valve ll). lhe handle 13 is formed at lhe cud oppmitv its lllll). as shown in Fig}. l. with an opening! or wrench head ill. lillin; the squared end ol' the valve stem for opening: and losing the Stop rock or valve 7. i v

A push rod 21. lillcd and guided in the horool' the stern lll. project's through the opt-mugs or ports 'l and 1/ into the port i in the hase (r. in aliucm nt with the top valve lll. 'lhisrod is provided with :1 rollar 2;, and packing rings or wadu-rs it on oppmili sides of naid collar lilting an enlargement ol the bore in the inner end ol' the 2-lilll ill and preventing: leakage oi 1hr comprwwd air r other fluid from the valve chandler in the cover c through said stem. The rod 21 iheld normally out of contact will] the valvc l). and tile par-kin; ring i l n the outer Sllll oi the collar 22 is held tightly against its seal or a shoulder at llw outer end ol the i-rr lurgvuu-ut ol' the horc in said stem. as hown in Fig. l. hy a spring 2i. inlcrpowd lulWH'Il the inner ring 2:3 and a plate 33 \cutcd. as Shown in Fig. .3. on the outer lill' ol' the valve 2} at a drdaurv l'rom the entral port or opening i.

In thiopcralion oi the device. to start the engine with which the controlling valw is conne ted, the tank or reservoir lacing charged with comprcascd air or hurting lluid. the handh- 1 3 is turned from its mid-- divor neutral poition. as l|own in Fig. I". to the h-l't or clockwiw. till the hank of the handhcngragch the sho'f fhlcr .2 and the index if) points to the letter S on the llange y. lly

this movement of the handle the through port 5 in the selector valve is brought into register with the service port whi h is connected through the distributing valve mechanism with tl.c engine. The push rod 21 is then thrust inward by the push button 19 against the stop valve ll), which is there by opened, as shown in Fig. 2. Compressed air or starting lluid is thus admitted from the tank or reservoir through the pipe p, valve chambe In, ports 2', (I and 4. into the valve chamber in the cover 0, from which it passes through the ports 55 and y, the passage n and the pipe connected therewith, to the engine, under control of the distributing valve mechanism.

As soon as the engine starts and heginsto function normally. which will occur ordi nurily after the admission to the engine of a very few charges of the startinq fluid. the push button 19 released and tie valve 16 is instantly closed by the spring 13. tl'icrehy completely cutting oil the supply of the com prcssed starting fluid from the tank or rescn voi r to the selector alvc through the port .2 and preventing waste of such fluid by leakage in the selector valve or otherwise, and depletion of the tank or reservoir. The handle 13 is then turned back to its neutral position, in which the index 15 points to the letter N on the flange y. In this position of the handle the through port 5 selector valve is turned out of register with the port g and closed, and the cavity 7 is turned back into position to connect the ports 9' and it. The compressed fluid is thus released from the distributing valve mechanism and its controller through the pipe connection leading therefrom to the passage 12, thence through the port g. cavity 7. and ports 71. and s. to the atmosphere.

To start the, pump or compressor for charging the tank or reservoir with compressed air or starting fluid, the handle 13 is turned, from its middle or neutral position to the right, or contraclockwise, until its shank engages with the stop shoulder 52. The through port 5 is thus brought 'into re eister with the port 6. The stop valve 16 being now opened by means of the push button 19, as above explained, if there suflicient pressure in the tank compressed fluid will pass therefrom tl'u'ough the chamber Ir, ports 17, (I and 4, into the selector valve chamber in the cover a, thence through the ports 5 and e. passage in and e pipe connected therewith, to the compressor controller, thereby starting the pump or compressor. If there is insutlicient pressure in the tank or reservoir for this purpose, the pump or compressor is started manually.

After the pump or compressor is started, it forces air through the pipe connected with t e passage m thence through the ports e and into the selector valvc chamber in the cup c, thcncc through the central opening, or port 4 in said valve. opening the stop valve it? against the tension of the spring 18, said valve acting now as a check valve. Passing through the chamber k, the compressed air is delivered by the pipe 1 into the tank or reservoir. \Vhcn the pressure in the, tank or reservoir has reached the desired limit, as indicated by a "age (not shown) the handle 13 is turnerl hack to its middle or neutral osition, carrying the port 5 out of register with the port c and moving the cavity 6 into position to connect the port 0 with the port f thereby cutting oil the compressor or pump from communicat'ion with the tank or reservoir and connecting it with the atmosphere through the portc, cavity 3, port nozzle 2;. cap 0 and auxiliary exhaust port "In". The crunpressed air being thus released from the pipe connecting the pump or compressor with the controlling valve, the pump or compressor is stoppcd. At the same time. the release of compressed air from thev selector valve chamber in the cap rr, permits the valve 16 to he closed by the spring 18 and the pressure in the tank or reservoir. The tank or reservoir is thus cut oil from the selector valve chamber, thereby a voiding any dh'ninution of pressure in the tank or reservoir by leakage in the selector valve or its connections.

If it is desired to inflate tires or L compressed air for any other purpose directly from the pump or compressor, the cap a: is removed and a hose attached to the nozzle u. The handle 13 is then turned to the right or contraclockwise, to start the pump or compressor. as above explained. by the admission of compressed air from the tank or rcservriir to the pump controller. After the pump or connncssor has been started, the handle l turned slowly back to its middle or neutral position so as to prevent stopping the pump or compressor by sudden release of air from its controller. This slow movement of the selector valve back to its middle or neutral position in which the port 0 is connected through the cavity 6 with the port f, throttles the passage "of air through ports till si'ifliclent pressure is established in the hose connected with the nozzle w to keep the pump or compressor in action.

When the hose is disconnected from a tire and "air released therefrom, the pump .or compressor will be automatically stopped by its controller as a result of sur pressure from the pipe connecting the controlling valve with the pump or compressor controller.

In case it. is desired to inflate a tire or supply compressed air for any other purpose directly from the tank or reservoir independoiitly ofilthe: u 9 or comliresspr, the handle 13 ispertiallg withdrawn from the supply release of.

hy the spring .pherethrough the ports stem 10 and turned to the right, or contravclockwise until its shank is opposite the notch 5) in the flange 7 In this position of the handle the valve port 5 registers with the port f, and upon pressing the buttonlll inwardly to open the valve 1th compressed air will flow from the tank or reservoir through the chamhcr ls. porta i, d and 4, into the chan'iher in. the cap a, thence through the ports f j", and t to the nozzle 1!. The flow of air from the tank or reservoir to the nozzle is cut oil by simply releasing the push button ll), which permits the valve ll; to he closed by the liuid pressure behind it, aided In chm-gin; the tank or reservoir from the pump or coml'iressor with the valve port 5 in register with the service port 0, and in taking; compressed air directly from the tank or reservoir for the inflation of tires or other purposes. when the alve port 53 is in rcgis ter with the exhaust. port )1 the service port 5 is connected h v the cavity 7 and its extension H with the exhaust port Ii, so that any leakage of compressed air from the'valve chamber between the face of thevalve and its seat, will escape directly to the atmosh and s, without aticcting the starting mechanism.

Various; modifications in minor details of construction' and arrangement of parts may he made without materially affecting the principle and mode of operation of the device and without dcpartin; from the scope oi the invention as delincd in the following claims.

I claim-I 1. In a controlling valve tor self-starters. having supply and service ports and an exhaust port open to the atmosphere. the co1uhination of a selector valve adapted to open and close communication either between service and supply ports or between service and exhaust ports. a self-closing stop valve in the supply port operating inde a-ndcntl v of pressure in the selector valve chamhcr and means for n'ianually opening the stop valve indepemlentlv of the opcration ol' the selector valve.

1 In a controlling: valve for self-starters, llu' comhination of a case havin; supply, service and exhaust ports. a rotary selector valve controlling communication. between certain of said ports, a tuhular stein rotatahl v mounted in the valvc'casc in engagement with the selector valve and having an en larjJed hove in in inner portion formin g an internal shoulder. a spring seated stop valve nornmll) closin; said supplv port. a push rod littcd in said stem in alinenu-nt \vith'the stop valve and provided with a collar and packing: titling the enlarged horn in said stein. a spring interposed between said collar and the selector valve and norn'iallv holding said packing against said shoulder,a.

fitted on said stem for turning the selector valve and provided with a push button removable therewith for thrusting the push rod inward and opening the stop valve.

In a controlling the. combination of a valve case having service, exhaust and auxiliaryexhaust ports, a nozzle attached to the handle removahly case in communication with the exhaust port, a cap reinovahly connected with the case over said nozzle and forming a passage connecting. the exhaust port with the auxiliary exhaust port, and a selector valve adapted to connect ant disconnect the service and exhaust ports.

i. In a controlling: valve forselflstarters, thc con'ahination of a valve case having supply. service exhairt and auxiliary exhaust ports. a nozzle at'ached to the case over the exhaust port, a cap removal'Jly connect ed with the ase and forminga passage connecting the exhaust port with the auxiliary exhaust port, a selector valve adapted in rlifferent positions to connect and disconnect the supply and service ports and to connect and disconnect the scrvice'and exhaust ports. a self-closing stop valve normally closing the supply port independently of the slec tor valve, and means for opening the stop valve.

5). In a controlling valve for self-starters, the combination of a case provided with a valve seat having a central supply port and service and exhaust ports at a distance from the center, means for connecting a hose or pipe with the exhaust port, a rotary selector valve having a central opening in constant eonnnuni :ation with said supply port, a through port adapted to register with either the service or exhaust port and a cavit v adapted to connect the service and ex haust p rts and means for turning said valvcn (3. In a controlling: valve for self-starters, the colnhination of a valve case having a pumping or service port and main and all iliar v exhaust ports. means for detachably conucctinga hose with the mainexhaust port, a n-movahlc cap connected with the valve case over the hose connection and normally forming! a passage which connects the main exhaust port with the auxiliary exhaust port. and a valve adapted in different position to connect and disconnect the service and main exhaust ports.

7. In a controlling valve for self starters. lluronillinutiun of a valve case having a, supply or reservoir port. pumping and starting or service ports. and exhaust ports asso-- riau-d with said service ports, a selector valve adapted in ditl'erent positions to conncct the reservoir port with the pumping and the starting ports and having cavities adapted in another connect said pumping and starting port-s position of, the valve to v, valve for self-starters,

with the associated exhaust ports, one of said cavities being extended to connect the starting port, With the associated exhaust port when the selector valve is in position to connect the reservoir port with the pumping port, and means'for operating said valve.

In a controlling valve for self-starters, the combination of a valve case having a supply or reservoir port, pumping and starting or service ports and exhaust ports associated with said service ports, means for detuchably connecting a hose with one of the exhaust ports, a selector-valve adapted in different positions to connect the supply port with the. service ports and with the exhaust port having the hose connection, and having cavities adapted in another position of the valve to connect the service ports with the associated exhaust ports, one of said cavities being extended to connect the starting service port with the associated exhaust port when the valve is in position to connect the reservoir port either with the pumping service port or with the exhaust port having the hose connection and means for operating said valve.

In witness whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NIIJLS A. CHRISTENSEN. \Vitncsses CHAS. L. (loss, Faun PALM, 

